When electric scooters beat the Bullet, it’s a sign of things to come
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Royal Enfield, maker of the iconic Bullet motorcycles, needed 15 years to grow its share of India’s two-wheeler market from negligible to 5%. Electric two-wheeler makers in India achieved that in 4 years.
These two journeys possibly outline what course India’s two-wheeler market is likely to take the next few years. Eicher Motors Ltd, the parent company of Royal Enfield, announced sales of over 1 million motorcycles last year—its best in over a century of existence. Last year, electric two-wheeler makers in India sold 1.14 million units, passing the million-units milestone for the first time.
Enfield’s sales grew 11% over the past year, while overall electric two-wheeler sales in India grew 21% in that same period. The numbers compare well against the 6% growth of India’s biggest two-wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp, which sold 5.9 million units in 2024-25, and the 8% growth of India’s overall two-wheeler industry, which ended the financial year with sales of more than 20 million units, matching the record set in FY18. Enfield’s motorcycles cost at least twice as much as Hero’s entry-level motorcycles.
Electric scooters are beginning to be priced at levels comparable to India’s biggest selling scooter brand, Activa, manufactured by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. Ola Electric Mobility Ltd’s is cheaper than an Activa. All these point to two clear takeaways: Though record exports helped Enfield achieve its milestone, much of its incremental sales came from upgraded and more expensive models it launched in India last year.
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